Pixie (Pixie Hollow Academy Book 1) Page 8

  “Interesting,” my father muses.

  “You don’t feel it either?” I ask Maxell.

  “Not in the way they do, no. I thought it might happen as time went on, but I just feel a different bond, more like protecting a sister than a mate.”

  “Why gives us a hard time then?” Oran adds. “You’ve been on our ass, making us feel like we did something wrong.” He shakes his head.

  “I guess I was jealous. You all have this bond with each other, I feel like I’m on the outside,” Maxell confesses. “I feel that you are all moving on and I am being left behind. It has always been us four, for as long as I can remember.”

  “Maxell,” I say, his eyes turn to me. “We may not be mates, but we are bonded in a different way. My magic recognises yours. I never thought of it before now, but we are bonded as sister and brother, you are as my grandfather says, my protector.” I touch his arm and my magic flares; his eyes widen when his reacts. They dance together, binding as one before turning into dust and settling into our skin.

  Maxell has tears in his eyes, I brush them away when they fall. “Now we are all one, all of us bonded for life,” I say, smiling through my own tears.

  Maxell hugs me, drawing me close. “Thank you, pixie,” he whispers.

  I giggle. “You don’t need to thank me.” When he pulls back, I feel something and gasp when I realise what it is. “You have a pixie mate?” I say.

  He nods, warmth spreading in his eyes. “I do.”

  “Can I meet her?” I ask eagerly, bouncing up and down.

  “Of course.” He looks away, but nor before I see a troubled look in his eyes. I hope his mate is OK, I think to myself.

  “Well I never,” my father says, looking at my back, his eyes wide, blinking rapidly.

  I gasp, Maxell jumps back shocked. Dust like wings are forming behind me, the purple, blue and pink shining like glitter. The room alights, blinding us all. I cover my eyes with my arm from the glare, blinking the spots from my eyes. Once the light settles, I notice my wings have too vanished. I frown, disappointed.

  “They will come back when you’re ready,” my father says, looking shocked.

  “Does that mean she’s the high pixie queen?” Maxell asks my father.

  “It does,” he replies. “You must train her; no other classes are needed. You four are the best in your field and elements. Train her hard, don’t hold back. I can’t lose my daughter too. I will inform you of any changes with the dark veil, for now it hasn’t moved. We also have warriors in search of this dark pixie and Honey; they should find them if they here hiding in our lands.” He strides over to me, engulfing me in a hug. “Be careful daughter,” he whispers into my hair.

  He leaves, his robes billowing behind him. The room goes quiet, all of us taking in the information that my father told us.

  “Well, that was an interesting way to start the day,” my grandfather says, cutting into the silence and breaking the tension in the air.

  “Sure was.” I smile.

  Training and More Training

  Over the next few weeks, things go quiet. My father hasn’t been in contact and my sister has stayed away from me. I still see her lurking sometimes, but she hasn’t approached me.

  My training got off to a rocky start. Needless to say, my magic wasn’t cooperating. My frustration was taken out on my males, which annoyed them because they were just trying to help. But juggling four elements was hard, my body felt divided sometimes and I couldn’t figure out how to control each one separately and together. For some reason, water was the easiest, apart from creating frost of course.

  Oran assured me that it will come with time. That I am still getting used to my magic.

  We were all standing in the gym, early as usual. My body aching from the previous days of torture.

  “You’re thinking too much,” Oran states.

  “Well excuse me, Mr’ I only have one element to control’,” I snap for the hundredth time.

  “I was just saying,” he sighs. “the first day you used your magic, what did you feel?” he asks.

  “I don’t remember, it was a blur.”

  “Think Pixie, run through what happened that morning when you confronted your sister.”

  Closing my eyes, I think back to that day, her sneering at me, making me feel weak. Her magic hitting me, the darkness from it licking at my skin. My eyes snap open. “My father said not to go easy on me, right?” I say, watching as they nod warily. “When my sister attacked, she intended to hurt me. When Trixie put her hand on me, my magic flared then,” I say.

  They all look confused, I sigh. “My magic knows you don’t intend to hurt me. It reacts to ill intent.”

  “So, it only reacts when it feels you’re being attacked?” Felix says circling me.

  “Yes.”

  “Well that’s easy to sort.” He cracks his neck, his eyes swirling like a storm.

  I watch him as he moves around me, the air crackling, the wind blowing my hair around my face. My body is hit by a blast of wind, it knocks me back. Then a foot follows in the back of my knee causing me to stumble.

  Oran moves to help me, but I hold my hand up, stopping him. “Don’t,” I say stopping him. He moves back to one side watching us warily.

  Felix stalks me again, he moves so fast my eyes can’t track him. Feeling a hit to the ribs causes me to suck in a breath. Clutching my side, I follow the white magic. I see him to my left and sidestep before he can hit me again. My magic flares to life, tracking the air pixie and slamming red magic into his.

  Felix stumbles, his magic swirling around his body. He grins coming at me again, this time faster and harder. But I am ready for him this time. I see him to my right, stepping back, watching his face inches from my own. My hand snaps out, grabbing him with an air cyclone and pull him to me. His eyes widen, surprised. I giggle as I peck him on the lips and move away.

  “How did you do that? No one has been able to catch me, not even them three,” he says pointing towards the other males, “and they are just as good as me.”

  “I followed your magic; you leave a trail,” I shrug.

  “Let’s try again shall we, she’s not even breaking a sweat,” Maxell says from where his stood, watching in amusement. I see tired lines etched on his face. Looking for Honey is taking its toll on him. “Let’s up the game shall we?” He faces me, a different look in his eyes, one of determination. He magics a sword made of fire.

  “All of you at once?” I ask startled.

  “Why not? Out there,” he points to the open window, “you won’t fight one on one. They will fight you to the death. All striking together, as a unit. They will show no mercy Pixie.” He removes his vest, eyes on me. “Strike.”

  He moves nearly as fast as Felix, his orange magic striking out at me. Heat licks at me skin, I flinch at the contact. He knocks me again, this time to the floor. His sword at my throat.

  “Easy Max,” Oran chides, helping me up.

  I shrug him off. “No, I need this.” Oran backs away, his magic on his fingers.

  My magic flares, consuming me. Colours swirl around me, and my eyes target back on Maxell. He grins, flexing his muscles. I laugh despite myself, then I lunge for him. My magic hitting him square in the chest. He bends over coughing, his hand covering the burn on his chest.

  I lower my hands and run to him, but he stops me with fire. It hits my feet, rising up my body. I scream as the flames burn my skin. I lash out with water, washing away the flames. My hand flies out, aiming at Maxell. It slams into him, sending him backwards. He hits the ground hard, then the others are on me. One by one they throw their magic at me. It strikes out at my body, hitting me over and over.

  Rage consumes me, my magic lifting me off the ground. Air lifts me high above my mates and Maxell, their eyes on me.

  “Pixie,” Zane says, reaching for me.

  My body shudders, I close my eyes trying to contain the built-up energy in my body. I force my magic back, my chest tight with
the power inside me. My feet hit the ground. Clutching at my chest, I try to control my heavy breathing. My eyes open to see my power receding, the magic sinking back into my body.

  I stand, rushing to Maxell, and dropping to my knees. “Are you ok? I’m so sorry.” I reach for him, surprised that my magic coats his chest. It glows white before vanishing. The red mark on his chest now gone. “How did I do that?”

  “It must be part of your magic,” he replies in awe.

  “Regardless, I’m sorry I hurt you. Maybe we shouldn’t do this anymore.”

  “Nonsense, we will continue until you have more control. You are getting better; we just need to control that anger of yours.”

  “I don’t know what happened, I just felt a blinding rage.”

  “I felt a little bit of darkness coming from you,” Zane says, looking worried. “It might be your connection to the dark veil. I don’t feel evil coming from you though.”

  I look to him, worried that it could mean something more. “What did you feel exactly?”

  “I felt your rage, but it was almost forced out of you, like something was controlling you. It didn’t feel the same as the dark pixie essence, it felt different, darker.”

  “Do you think…,” I begin.

  “No, you’re not a dark pixie. I think someone is controlling you, your eyes changed ever so slightly, but as soon as I called your name you snapped out of it.”

  “I don’t feel anything now,” Oran says, rubbing his face, “but I know what you mean Zane, I felt it too.”

  “Question is, who is trying to control Pixie?” Maxell asks.

  “The dark pixie, not the one called Jay, but maybe his master,” Felix replies. “It makes sense.”

  “But how is he controlling me from where he is? He must be on our lands and he would be very powerful to control me from where he is,” I say.

  “Unless he has spies. He could be using them as puppets, using their energy to enhance Pixie’s so she loses control. Or he could have someone else working for him. This power screams black witch to me, but they died out when the last war ravaged our lands.” Maxell walks to his vest, pulling it over his head. “I will go talk to your grandfather, maybe he can send word to your father and ask his thoughts on the matter.”

  “What should I do until then, not practice?” I say, watching him leave the room.

  “Yes, for now anyway. We need extra protection while you train. I know someone that can do a spell, I will ask her to cast it over the gym so no other magic seeps in.”

  “Who can do that?”

  “A white witch of course.” He winks then leaves.

  I turn to the others, “I thought you just said they died out?” I ask confused.

  “Black witches yes, they are the dark to the light of the witch world. Most white witches live in the human world, where they make a living selling potions and doing tarot reading. We have one here, on our lands. She is married to a pixie. Max will ask her for a spell or potion to help protect you,” Oran answers.

  “Oh, I didn’t think they existed. No one talks about them.”

  “Who taught you as a seedling? I swear you were born under a rock sometimes,” Felix says, shaking his head.

  “No, I was born in a palace and shielded from the world,” I say in a huff.

  Felix walks to me, taking me in his arms. “Witches are pixies that were born with different magic to us. They use potions, spell books to help them with all sorts of things. They are rare though. When they left these lands, they mated with humans to keep their line alive. We don’t have pure witches anymore.”

  “Right, OK. Why no one told me is beyond me.”

  “Maybe because they don’t walk our lands anymore. They have a different way of living. They are happy where they are.” He takes my hand. “Come on, let’s go shower.” He waggles his eyebrows, making me laugh.

  “Cheeky, but I do need a shower.” I release my hand from his, walking from the room. “Coming?” I say over my shoulder. I smile as they all follow me, there gaze dipping low to watch my bum.

  I laugh as my mates follow me, their own laughter following me through the door. As I open the door, Silvia stumbles through into me. I push her back, irritated to have caught her spying on me.

  “What are you doing here, Silvia?”

  “None of your business, Pixie,” She retorts.

  “Why are you so annoying? Why do you have to be so bloody irritating?”

  “Because I can.”

  “She’s jealous,” Oran pipes up. I look at him, frowning. “I can sense certain things, like emotions. It’s an extra gift bestowed on me,” he says proudly.

  “I am not! Why on earth would I be jealous of her?” she sneers.

  “Because she has everything you want, the freedom you crave, the power and her good looks.” He smiles.

  “I don’t want any of those things, I’m normal, unlike her.”

  I don’t even flinch. “There would have been a time where that comment would hurt me, especially coming from you. But you know what? I don’t even care what your selfish bratty self thinks. I have all I need. You, well, you have nothing, just your ordinary pixie self.” I walk past her, not even bothering to look back. But when she speaks, I stop in my tracks.

  “What about Honey?” she says, a dark smirk on her face.

  I spin back, grabbing her collar and dragging her to me. With strength I didn’t know I possessed, I lift her off the floor, her feet dangling. She gasps for breath, her face going red.

  “What do you know?” I say, dangerously calm.

  Her eyes widen, she grabs at my hand and I release her. “Like I would tell you,” she says, between gulps of breath. “You’re a freak.” She backs away, but bumps into Oran whose arms are crossed, a scowl on his face.

  “I suggest you talk little pixie,” he says.

  She sighs, looking between us and a way to escape. We close in, trapping her in a circle.

  “Fine! I saw her leave with that dark pixie.” I raise a brow that she knows who he was and didn’t inform anyone. “I know what you’re thinking, why didn’t I tell anyone? I was scared OK, I thought he would come back and take me. I heard him talking to someone, all I heard that the plan is in place and they will have you soon.” She looks at me, true fear in her eyes. “I don’t want them to take you, we may have our problems Pixie, but I would never want them to get to you, to hurt you.”

  I’m shocked by her revelation, but she still should have told someone. “You should have told Head Pixie, or father,” I say.

  “I know, but like I said, I was scared they would take me like they took Honey. I tried to stop her you know, told her not to leave the academy, that she wouldn’t be safe. She just laughed at me; she didn’t seem herself.” My sister shrugs.

  “It doesn’t matter, she would have gone anyway. I think she’s been bitten by him, on numerous occasions. It might be too late to bring her back to us as she was,” I say sadly. My heart squeezes, my best friend could be lost to me.

  “Should I tell someone, maybe I should tell father so he can send some guards to protect you?”

  “It’s fine, I have to go see the Head Pixie anyway, I can tell him what you said.”

  “Fair enough, I’m late for class so I better go.” She doesn’t say goodbye, walking swiftly away and disappearing through the door.

  “She’s cheerful,” Felix says.

  “She’s always been that way; I blame her mother. She never liked me, always taunted me as a child. But then my father put a stop to it, told her that I am to be treated as the next queen.” I smile at the memory. I was a seedling at the time.

  “Still, you would think she would want to know you better, as her only sister.”

  “Umm,” is all I say.

  “Why didn’t you tell her about what your father said to us?” Zane asks me.

  “Because I don’t trust her. For some reason, I don’t believe her that she was scared, if anything she was being spiteful. Also, I don�
��t believe she tried to stop her. She was always hateful towards Honey.”

  “About that shower,” Felix says, smirking.

  I smack his chest, laughing. “One-track mind,” I say, but I walk in the direction of their room anyway.

  Mobsy

  I walk through the lands, my legs carrying me to the dark veil. The guards there raise their swords but lower them when I approach.

  “No change?” I ask.

  “No, no one has walked through, either,” the one to the left answers.